Process for removing sulphur compounds from petroleum oils



Oct. 2el 192e. I

1,604,235 L. L.. oDoM Filed.A June 13. 192.4

atroz 11u35 'Patented Oct. 26, 19326. Y

yUNITED STATES 1,604,235- PATENT OFFICE;

LELAND L. onon, or LITTLE nocx, ARKANSAS, AssrGNoaEY nmEc'r AND mEsNE AssIcNuENTs, V'ro x-o-n rnonuc'rs COMPANY, A' conronA'rzorr or DELAWARE.

PROGES FOB. MOVING SULPBUB COMPOUNDS FBE PETROLEUM OILS.

Appuoaaon mea :une is; 1924. serial no. naam.

' The invention, broadly, relates to the distillation. of petroleum oils. The primary object of the invention isthe removal of sulphur compounds from the oil in distib 3 lation. y

Other objects are toassist in the'purification of oils, and to provide a process for the removal of sulphur compounds, which is extremely efficient, and ine ensive. l With these, and such other o Vjects in view as will be apparent from the description, the invention resides in the novel process hereinafter described and claimed, an ap`I paratus for carrying out` thel process being i shown in theY accompanying'drawngs in which;

The figure -is an elevation, partly in section, vof an' apparatus arranged for carrying out the'process.

v 5Heretofore in this art man atempte have been made to vremove the phur compounds rom petroleum oils, none of which have been successful in removing a major portion of the compounds. Furthermore the processes as now employed, are expensive in application, and of a low eiiciency'.

In oils treated by my process, the sulphur is removed downv to less than one fourth of one per cent. f

As illustrated comprises a steel still of approximately() barrels capacity, which is charged with crude petro eum oil, or such distillatev or other liquids as desired for treatment. Rising from the stillare a plurality of metallic cylindrical containers, preferably three in number, as 11, 12 and 13, having 'constricted bottoms in communication with'the still by means of the pipes 14, and 16. VThese pipes are provided with the valves'17, 18 and 19.

The upper end of container 11, at one end of the still, connects with a condenser line 20, and the upper ends of the containers :l2 and 13 are also connected with the line by' means of the pipes 21 and 22 respectively. A valve 23 is provided in the condenser line 20 between containers 11 and 12, and a valve 24 is disposed in the line between the'containers 12 and 13, for a purpose hereinafter described. A release line is arranged between the still and condenser line for emergency pur ses.

Each of the series of containers 11, 12 and .13, is iilled with closel packed tightly compressed metallic woo of a line hair like consistency, which is applied from the upper ends thereof, and packed therein to the desired consistenc If desired, the Wool may be inserted in tlsie form of cylindrical bales, bound with wire which is cut on insertion to allow the wool to expand and completely fill the containers. The constricted ottoms of the containers insure an eflicient packing and compression of the wool at these points.

-The essential feature of my process lies in the use of metallicv wool. In operation,

as the still is fired, valves 17, 23 and 24 are opened and valves 18 and 19 are closed. The hot oil vapors will then pass up through container 11 and to the condenser line for treatment in the usual manner. Due to the' y content. has been treated, valve 17 is closed and 18 is opened, permitting -the vapors to pass up throu h the second container 12. Valve 23 in t e condenser line is then closed to prevent back flow. VIn like manner, when the charge of wool in container 12 isfound to have extracted its capacity of sulphur from the vapors passing therethrough, valve 18 is closed and 19 is opened to pass the vapors up through the container 13. `Valve 24 in the condenser line is closed to prevent back low.

I have found that copper wool gives the best results and in the preferred embodiment of my process I use copper wool of a fine, hair like consistency, closely an'd tightly packed and compressed. VIt is obvious that' the greater-the amount of wool employed,

the greater'will be the reaction, asa larger metallic surface will be exposed to the oil vapors. It is a matter of importance that the wool be tightly packed, as the vapors will then come into intimate contact with every particle of the metal.. Y

While copper wool givesthe best results, iron Vwool or steel wool may be employed, as well as the wool of any metal that combines with sulphur under proper conditions of temperature. Amon i such may be mentioned, aluminumzinc, ead.

Ineaeh and every instance where the wool of the metals referred'v to is employed, the petroleum vapors passing through and over vthe wool will be relieved of sulphur to a percentage considerably below one fourth of one er cent.

y process consists 1n passing petroleum vapors from a still, through and over metallic wool, preferably copper Wool, to remore practically the entire sulphur content of the oil. -Owing to the alnity of the sulphur for the metal, under heat, the sulphur will free itself of the oil and combine with -the wool. This is a radical departure from manner for recovery of thefsulphur extract edfromthe0iL` It to be understood that the rocess is applicable to any liquid hydrocar ons and ldistillates of petroleum, the essential feature ries with the metal employed and will beregulated accordingly for the most eflcient results.

I claim In the distillation of petroleum oils, the removal of more than ninety nine and three fourths percent of thesulphur content of the oils, by passing the stillv vapors through tightly packed and compressed copper wool, the fibers whereof are of an even and extremely fine hair like consistency.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LELAND L. ODOM. 

